Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-12-09
DEATH or Il SOLDIER.
Ho,r Miss L:i,ett Myron Found tic stage,
Of Her rather

the fall of 1861, Hayne Myron joined
volunteer South Carolina regiment,
says a writer in the atlanta Co1estit1l-
ton. Before leaving home he had a
picture of his little girl painted in min
iature, and encased it in locket that
he placed next to his heart. Six
months later, in skirmish in Virginia,
Hayne Myron was killed in close com
bat by Federal officer. Only few
words were sent to the old home to tell
the sad story.
During Gen. Sherman's invasion into
South Carolina the Myron homestead
was destroyed. The widow and daugh-
ter continued to live on the plantation
in an outbuilding, supported by the
rents from the lands. Two years ago
Mrs. Myron died, and through the in
tiuence of friends Miss Myron obtained
position as governess in the family
of Col. w. r. Smith of New York. She
stated to ME that her first meeting with
Col. Smith was peculiar. That when
his wife introduced her to him, saying,
"This is our new governess from South
Carolina, Miss Rhett Myron," his face
became deathly white and he gave
sudden start. He was absent from
home when Mrs. Smith engaged her.
He mechanically shook hands with her
and tried to speak bat his lips seemed
sealed. But latter his manner changed
to kindness and corliality, and she was
treated more as an honored guest than
as salaried teacher He insisted on
paying her four times the amount she
charged for her services, and made her
duties light. One evening she was sit
ting in the family circle, telling of her
past life down in South Carolina, of
the spacious home with it's twenty col
umns, of the dusky slaves who used to
sit her on their shoulders, calling her
their little queen" as they carried her
through the cotton fields that looked
like seas of snow foam. For the first
time she spoke OF her father; how
handsome and sad he looked as he went
away on that dreadful last day; how he
took her picture with him, and told all
he said. She states that she was forced
to stop in the midst of her words for
Col. Smith turned CHASTITY pale and
left the room. Miss AIyron continued
to live with Mr.. Smiths family for two
years.
ut was haven and home to me-, I"
she said. II had so long toiled and
work, on our plantation, isolated from
society and all advantages, it was like
a fairy life had opened to me of ease
and luxury, but my heart was almost
breaking, as remembered all that I
had lost in those sad, sweet days."
Six week ago Col. Smith was taken
suddenly ill, and when he realized that
death was inevitable he expresskd
desire to see Miss NIyron alone. She
states that rs she neared the bed Of the
dying man she saw him holding some
thing convulsiyely in one hand as he ex-
tended the other to her and exclaimed:
"Rhett Myron, forgive me before I
die; without your pardon cannot die
come close and listen to what 1 have to
tell you. It was ! who made YOU an
orphan; my hands are red with your
fathers blood. Take this" he said,
handing her the package. 81 found it
on his dying breast. 1t is your face;
your name and his name are upon it.
Take it, and forgive one who has tried
to expiate the wrongs done you. Oh,
can you forgive dying man." and the
voice became faint and low.
ooh! sir, you both were soldiers; 1
freely forgive" and the poor girl could
say no more, as she fell unconscious
upon the floor.
"Thank God, he murmured, and all
was over.
When Rhett Myron recovered the
man who had killed her father, and who
was later the best friend she ever
knew, was dead. In his will he be-
queathed to her the generous sum of
$4,000 He also left ~ letter giving
all the particulars Of her fathers death.
Only a few days ago l saw the picture
"a sweet child face in an azure cloud
and on the little plush case We're
marks Of blood.
THE NECK or THE GIRIE'IE
In spite Of its enormous length it
only possesses the seven vertebrn
which are common to nearly all the
mammals. In consequence it is nearly